In Memoriam WGM Elisabeta Polihroniade (Romania)

Submitted by eugen on Sun, 01/31/2016 - 00:21
WGM Polihroniade (Lili for her close friends) has passed away on Jan 23rd, 2016 at the respectable age of 80. She was, is and will remain forever one of the greatest chess promoters Romania has gifted the World with. During her impressive career as a chess player she won 7 national titles and represented Romania in 10 Olympiads. She was also a highly respected International Arbiter. During her latter years she put all her energy into promoting chess for children and chess in schools. Romania's chess roots have received back invaluable guidance and wisdom from one of the country chess icons. May you rest in peace Lili! You will live forever in our minds; when we say chess, we remember your legacy too. This is arguably one of the most memorable wins (personal selection) of her chess career. [Event "Cup World (open)"][Site "Palma de Majorca (Spain)"][Date "1989.??.??"][White "Elisabeta Polihroniade"][Black "Leonid A Shamkovich"][Result "1-0"][ECO "B43"] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.f4 Nc6 7.Be2 d6 8.Be3 Nf6 9.Qd2 Be7 10.O-O-O O-O 11.g4 {So far a Sicilian Kan line still played today} d5 {this has not been played anymore since 2004; however at the time this move was supposed to equalize} 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 exd5 {the Isolated Queen Pawn or IQP should help in the middle game if the files and diagonals around it are clear and controlled by the attacking side; in my opinion black does not have it here and stands worst} 14.Nb3 Bd6 15.Kb1 Ne7 {black is looking for a better position for its pieces and needs to defend the IQP. It is not good; better was 15... Re8 or 15... a5} 16.h4 h5 17.Rhg1 hxg4 18.Bxg4 Bxg4 19.Rxg4 {white is in attacking position first and it does not look too complicated to put it together: doubling the Rooks along the g-file, Bd4 and pushing the h4-pawn is quite simple to see} Nf5 20.Rdg1 Rfe8? {I believe black is already lost here} (20...Kh8 21.Qd3 g6 22.Bd4+ Nxd4 23.Qxd4+ Kh7 24.h5 g5 25.Rxg5) 21.Nd4 Qd7 22.Nxf5 Qxf5 23.Rxg7+ Kf8 24.R7g5 Qe4 25.f5 (25.Bd4 f6 26.Rg8+ Ke7 27.Rxe8+ Rxe8 28.Re1) Ke7 26.f6+ Ke6 (26...Kd7 27.Rxd5 Qxe3 28.Rxd6+ Kc7 29.Rd7+ Kb8 30.Qxe3 Rxe3 31.Rxf7) 27.R5g4 (27.Re1) 27...Qf3 28.Bd4 (28.Rd4) 28...Kd7 29.Rg7 Re2 30.Qa5 Qe4 31.Bc3 {the game ended here with white's win; however it is not clear what happens after: 31... Qxc2+ 32.Ka1 Kc6 {threatens a nasty b7-b6, trapping Qa5} 33.Bd4 Bc7 34.Qc3+ Qxc3 35.Bxc3 {it is hard to believe black could have reached this position...}